Two years ago I purchased a 1999 dodge dakota 4wd pick up truck with approx. 63k miles. At 68,500 miles I replaced the brake rotors, pads and calipers. The caliper bolts pulled out of the spindle on each wheel and allowed the caliper to drop down onto the rotor causing the brakes to pull to the left side and overheat. When I removed the calipers the bolts were removable by hand and the threading in the spindle was rusted out and would not hold new caliper bolts. I contacted two dodge dealers (parts dept) and they stated they knew of no problems with the spindles. I checked on the internet and it seems that there has been an ongoing problem with the bolts pulling out of the spindles on this model of dakota's and durango's. This is clear cut safety problem that should be the responsibility of dodge and the federal safety agency should be forcing them to make the repair or at least provide the parts for a solution. Please note that the left front wheel did begin to overheat and actually began to catch on fire which required me to stop the vehicle and allow it to cool down and temporarily adjust the caliper in order to get home.
1999 Dodge Dakota brakes complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 95, newest first, as owners wrote them.
After applying the brake to shift gears, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor with very little resistance. The brake light came on the dashboard. When I got out of car, there was a large pool of brake fluid under the driver side door. Upon further inspection, I noticed the brake fluid leaking from the rusted brake line.
This is in regards to a 1999 dodge dakota sport with a club cab. It only gets driven a few months out of the year and only has 53,000 mile on it. I drove my truck to the city transfer station on sunday. While backing up to the dumpster my brakes let go. The ABS and brake light came on and I was barley able to stop before the truck rolled into the dumpster. Upon inspection of the brake system one of the brake lines had rotted and gave way. That following monday I took it to the repair shop. My tech showed me that every brake line under the truck was rotten and had to be replaced costing $900 plus.
Ball joints failed on all four wheels. Left front ball joint broke and burned out the brakes. Brakes failed.
Around 03/04/2008 I was driving through a credit union parking lot and hit a sheet of ice I engaged my brakes to slow down, but my anti-lock brakes did not work and I slid 25' into an SUV causing some costly damage to both vehicles. Both vehicles were disabled and had to be towed. Also,the airbags on my vehicle did not engage and fortunately I only sustained a minor head injury.
Aug. 24, 2007 ABS @ brake warning lamps light, brake pedal went to the floor. Made appointment at a dealership. Aug. 25, 2007 1) I found master cycl. Was empty (no brake fluid.) 2) found hole in rusted brake line under drivers side door.3) found all brake lines were rusted underneath side of truck. Aug. 28, 2007 had truck towed to dealership. Aug. 30, 2007 called customer assistance center to check on recall for rusted brake lines. No recalls. Given case # 16686272. 1st estimate for repairs $350.00 to 400.00. 2nd estimate for repairs $500.00 to 600.00. 3rd estimate for repairs $700.00 to 800.00. Sept. 11, 2007 repairs completed. All brake lines underneath truck were replaced with original parts. Total 8 lines. Total bill was $865.24 minus a 10% coupon I had total now $781.92. Service manager comments: he has a similar truck, after seeing my rusted brake lines, he is going to have all his brake lines replaced on his truck. Sept. 14, 2007 called customer assistance center for the 2nd time. Gave them updated repair information & told them this is a very serious safety issue & are lucky that I was driving not my wife or one of my children when the brakes went out. Asked for refund for repairs, turned down.
Brake line failed on a 1999 dodge dakota. The main brake line leading to the rear wheels failed. The service tech (mooresville tire in mooresville, in stated that the brake line had not been damaged, it just failed. I don't think that a brake line should fail in a vehicle that is 8 years old. This is a safety hazard. *tr. Updated 01/11/08. *lj updated
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the brake line is rubbing on the frame of the vehicle. If this continues to occur, it could damage the brake line and cause the brakes to fail. She has not yet notified the dealer or the manufacturer. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 45,000.
1999 dodge dakota applied brake and vehicle pulled to the left**cw** 2nd car from document number 10195900 the consumer stated when the brakes are applied, the brake pads wear, and pressure was being placed on the lugs/slide bars. The consumer also stated that it was also quite possible the brakes could be delayed from engaging because the backing plates are not able to ride up and over the wear spot. The consumer stated when he attempted to apply the brakes a delay in braking occurred, followed by a slight shudder, then the wheel locked up. The vehicle didn't stop and consequently he rear ened another vehicle.
Tl*- the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. While driving the contact heard a squealing noise and felt a vibration while depressing the brake. The mechanic stated that the front spindles on his vehicle were defective. The mechanic inserted a bolt that was supposed to keep the caliper attached to the spindle. Approximately a month later he heard a loud squealing. The contact checked the brake pads and notice that the pads on the driver's side were worn. The contact replaced front rotors, calipers, brake pads and bolts. There has not been any other occurrences since the replacement. The vehicle current and failure mileage were both 123,000 miles.
I had bought my 1999 dodge dakota in 2001, less than 1 year of purchasing this truck, I lost oil pressure, returned the truck to dealer where they tried to replace my motor with a motor that had more miles, this did not happen. Then another year later, gears in my transmission were spent where I had to pay a few thousand dollars to have it repaired. Truck has been sitting for a year, cause of engine knocking again, with no oil pressure, also replaced the oil pump, still no pressure. New converter was put in, still good!! Brakes and rotors are another big complaint of mine, when I have to constantly replace these parts, like every 6 months, can you tell me why? I used to love dodge, but this truck has been a 1 big headache, even parked, cause I know it is going to be costly to repair it again.
The ABS light and brake light in my 1999 dodge dakota started staying on after startup intermittently. The lights stayed on more often as time went by. Shop couldn't find a problem. Eventually both lights were on all the time. Vehicle started stalling at stop signs and when going around corners. Speedometer wouldn't work at low speeds--came on about the time doors automatically locked (20-25 MPH). Shop replaced speed sensor. Vehicle ran fine for 30 days or less. Same symptoms are back.
My son escaped danger when the transmission/torque converter of his 1999 dodge dakota went out on an interstate highway. After replacing that and heading back home, his u joints and wheel bearings went out almost causing another wreck. These were all repaired. So far $3000 in repairs in a month. Then the oil pressure dropped to zero as he was driving. Now the oil pump needs replaced. Along with the tie end rods, the timing chain, and the serpentine. He'd already had the total brake system replaced this summer. Having all the receipts showing regular oil changes, the warranty company refuses to pay for the oil pump because of some sludge in the pump. Now I find from researching on the computer that this is a very common problem in durangos and dakotas. We've put $5000 in this truck in less than one month. The manufacturer needs to admit the flaws in this vehicle. They have some responsibility here. We are just glad he was not injured or killed. But we've put over $5000 in a '99 vehicle - which is unfair when the problems are related to the design and manufacture of the vehicle.
Dt: contact stated that the brake line rusted through below the driver's side door where it was attached to the frame. The consumer is going to take the vehicle to the service dealer. *ak
Brakes. The steel brake lines are mounted to the top of the frame with a bracket directly under the master cylinder and to the rear of the fender well. The lines have rusted through and burst whlile I was approaching an intersection. Fortunately no cars were in front of me and I was able to stop safely. I was amazed as to how rusty the are and left to be that subject to the elements.
My brake rotors constantly pulse very heavily when the brakes are applied. Steering is effected and the truck is hard to control when stopping. The ABS light is constantly light up. I took the vehicle to a garage to check the ABS brakes and they said the brakes were fine but they can not remove the light ABS light. This will be my second time replacing my rotors since I bought the truck new. It has 85,103 miles today. I have had numerous problems with the brakes but not the rotors.
Dodge dakota 1999 consumer states vehicle front end wobble, brake vibration and upper/lower ball joint problem. *bf the shock absorbers and transfer case was defective. The power steering pump leaked and there was extra play in the steering. A piece of the exhaust fell off the vehicle.
Dodge dakota 1999 numerous problems with vehicle ball joint and steering mechanisms. *bf there were also problems with the rear end, transmission, engine malfunction lights, poor engine performance which consisted of hesitation and loss of power especially when under a load-going up and hill and seemed to get worse as the gas level in the tank lowered, hard abrupt shifting when in reverse and park to reverse, loud rubbing which was intermittent when making left turns and when stopping, the front would shake, the four wheel drive light was not visible on the dash when activated and would only show when the all wheel drive was activated, and there was a wobble, flexing and or vibration that would be present when braking along with a loose feeling or wobble when turning the front wheels. *sc
During inspection the lower ball joints were found to be defective. The brakes pulsated and the vehicle was hard to stop.
Vehicle encountered failure of right front ball joint which resulted in failure of wheel bearing and brake rotor. *bf the vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that the ball joint had failed as a result of the failure of the wheel bearing. The consumer does believe that the technicians account of the failures was accurate.
Front rotors need frequent turning, they pulse, I have had them turned three times and they need it again. I have a 1999 dakota, v6, auto 2-wheel drive with 45,000 on it.
Recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints. Consumer brought vehicle to dealer for brake work and discovered the upper ball joints were defective. This vehicle is not included in the upp ball joint recall due to VIN.
Numerous front end/engine, exhaust, brake and electrical mafunctions/mechanical problems including increasing severity front end wobbling/vibration/flexing when turning wheels, going down a hill and when applying brakes. No accident has occurred yet but owner is very concerned with safety of vehicle and operation. I have contacted,compained, called.e-mailed and faxed the dealer where I purchased this 1999 dodge dakota with suppossedly only 44951 miles -mitchell pre-owned certified on queen street in southington, ct and also the mitchell conglomerate owner steve mitchell as well as mitchell dodge in simsbury, ct who provided this suppossedly inspected, certified safe vehicle to mitchell in southington, ct for sale to the public.
To date, I have replaced the following: 1) upper ball joints - both sides 2) lower ball joints - both sides 3) calipers - both sides (front) 4) water pump 5) wheel hubs - both sides (front) 6) catalytic converter 7) headlamp switch. *jb now, I have the following problems: 1) headlamp switch (again) 2) transmission will not shift between gears 3) upper control arm bushings.
Continuous ABS problems. Some times the ABS brakes will apply without touching the brake pedal, most of the time the ABS won't work at all, ABS sensors are continuously needing replacement,all 4 front end ball joints worn out, noisy rear end, only 50,000 miles.
Prior to the part replacement, I experienced the following with my 1999 dodge dakota pickup (manual transmission). The engine stalled, the speedometer acted erratically and dropped to zero, and the check engine and ABS warning lights came on. This occurred while I was still in gear and moving at speeds of 50 MPH, 35 MPH, 25 MPH, and when just starting out after backing out of a parking space. Those times when I had sufficient speed, the engine would restart within 10 seconds - if I left the vehicle in gear. At other speeds, the truck stopped dead in the roadway - with traffic behind me having to slam on their brakes. The internet is littered with stories of the failure of the ABS/rear wheel speed sensor in dodge vehicles. (for examples, see www.dodgedakotas.com). There are, however, no indications of related accidents. I suspect it is only a matter of time. I researched the problem via the internet and took my vehicle to my local dealer and had them replace the part (at a cost of $85 +$36.10). The vehicle has not exhibited any of the above symptoms since replacing the sensor. I retained the failed part. The issue here is that this sensor should not cause the engine to stall. There are no diagnostic codes associated with this failure. My belief is that the firmware for the onboard computer must be flashed for all models (and the issue corrected for any future models) so that the engine is not told to shut down. I would add that, since this sensor is associated with emissions, the replacement and labor should be covered under the warranty. Thank you for letting me vent!
1999 dodge dakota we bought it new rotors have been replaced 4 times for cracking tie rod ends are bad the first set of tires lasted 14000 miles. Front tires are impossible to keep.
While driving, a loud noise was heard coming from the front end of the vehicle. Upon having the vehicle inspected, the mechanic determined that the ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak the ball joint were worn. The upper and lower joints were loose and noisy, and the front brakes had rusted. *sc
Consumer have rotors replaced twice. *la the consumer is now being told that the ball joints are cracked. The consumer stated that the vehicle was never driven off road therefore it is not normal and highly unusual for these types of abnormalities to exist. The consumer believes a recall should be initiated for this vehicle.
When driving the vehicle at an undetermined speed and when braking vehicle vibrated from the front end. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that both front rotors failed. The consumer stated that the front rotors were already replaced.
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